Seed treatment with combinations of insecticides

ABSTRACT

A method of preventing damage to the seed and/or shoots and foliage of a plant by a pest includes treating the seed from which the plant grows with a composition that includes a combination of at least one pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroid and at least one other insecticide selected from the group consisting of an oxadiazine derivative, a chloronicotinyl, a nitroguanidine, a pyrrol, a pyrazone, a diacylhydrazine, a triazole, a biological/fermentation product, a phenyl pyrazole, an organophosphate and a carbamate. It is preferred that when the other insecticide is an oxadiazine derivative, the pyrethroid is selected from the group consisting of taufluvalinate, flumethrin, trans-cyfluthrin, kadethrin, bioresmethrin, tetramethrin, phenothrin, empenthrin, cyphenothrin, prallethrin, imiprothrin, allethrin and bioallethrin. The treatment is applied to the unsown seed. In another embodiment, the seed is a transgenic seed having at least one heterologous gene encoding for the expression of a protein having pesticidal activity against a first pest and the composition has activity against at least one second pest. Treated seeds are also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 60/238,485, filed Oct. 6, 2000, and claimspriority thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] (1) Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to the control of plant pestsand more particularly to the provision of protection against insectdamage to seeds and plant parts by the treatment of plant seeds withcombinations of pesticides.

[0004] (2) Description of the Related Art

[0005] The control of insects and related arthropods is of extremeimportance to the agricultural industry. Every year, these pests destroyan estimated 15% of agricultural crops in the United States and evenmore than that in developing countries. Some of this damage occurs inthe soil when plant pathogens, insects and other such soil borne pestsattack the seed after planting. Much of the rest of the damage is causedby rootworms; plant pathogens that feed upon or otherwise damage theplant roots; and by cutworms, European corn borers, and other pests thatfeed upon or damage the above ground parts of the plant. Generaldescriptions of the type and mechanisms of attack of pests onagricultural crops are provided by, for example, Metcalf, in Destructiveand Useful Insects, (1962); and Agrios, in Plant Pathology, 3rd Ed.,Academic Press (1988).

[0006] The period during germination of the seed, sprouting and initialgrowth of the plant is particularly critical because the roots andshoots of the growing plant are small and even a small amount of damagecan kill the entire plant. Moreover, some natural plant defenses are notfully developed at this stage and the plant is vulnerable to attack. Notsurprisingly, the control of pests that attack the seed and the aboveground plant parts during this early stage of plant growth is a welldeveloped area of agriculture.

[0007] Currently, the control of pests that attack post emergent cropsprimarily involves the application of synthetic organic pesticides tothe soil, or to the growing plants by foliar spraying. Because ofconcern about the impact of chemical pesticides on public health and theenvironment, there has been much effort to reduce the amount of chemicalpesticides that are used. A significant portion of this effort has beenexpended in developing transgenic crops engineered to express insecttoxicants from microorganisms. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,012 toEstruch et al. discloses the cloning and expression of proteins fromsuch organisms as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Clavibacter and Rhizobium intoplants to obtain transgenic plants with resistance to such pests asblack cutworms, armyworms, several borers and other insect pests.Publication WO/EP97/07089 by Privalle et al. teaches the transformationof monocotyledons, such as corn, with a recombinant DNA sequenceencoding peroxidase for the protection of the plant from feeding by cornborers, earworms and cutworms. Jansens et al., in Crop Sci.,37(5):1616-1624 (1997), reported the production of transgenic corncontaining a gene encoding a crystalline protein from Bacillusthuringiensis that controlled both generations of the European cornborer. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,625,136 and 5,859,336 to Koziel et al. reportedthat the transformation of corn with a gene from B. thuringiensis thatencoded for delta-endotoxins provided the transgenic corn with improvedresistance to European corn borer.

[0008] A comprehensive report of field trials of transgenic corn thatexpresses an insecticidal protein from B. thuringiensis has beenprovided by Armstrong et al., in Crop Science, 35(2):550-557 (1995).

[0009] At the present state of plant cellular engineering, however,transgenic crops are typically resistant only to specific pests for thatcrop, e.g., transgenic corn expressing a Bt toxin against the cornrootworm. It is frequently necessary to apply synthetic pesticides tosuch transgenic plants to control damage by other pests.

[0010] Insecticides such as synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates andcarbamates; fungicides such as azoles and anilopyrimidines; andacaricides such as pyrazoles; and the like, are very effective againstcertain above ground plant pests when applied at the proper time andwith proper procedures. Appropriate pesticides may be applied at thetime of planting as surface bands, “T”-bands, or in-furrow, but theseapplications require the additional operation of applying the pesticideat the same time as the seeds are being sown. This complicates theplanting operation and the additional equipment required for pesticideapplication is costly to purchase and requires maintenance and attentionduring use. Moreover, care must be taken to incorporate the pesticidesproperly into the topmost soil layer for optimal activity. (See, forexample, the application requirements and precautions for use oftefluthrin that are described in the brochure titled Force 3GInsecticide, published by Zeneca Ag Products, Wilmington, Del. (1998)).

[0011] The activity of pesticides that have been applied as in-furrowapplications at the time of sowing is usually directed to the protectionof the seed or the roots of the plant. Some protection against aboveground pests such as corn borers has been reported, however, for suchtreatments with insecticides known to be systemic. Keaster andFairchild, J. Econ. Entomol., 61(2):367-369 (1968). Since such pesticidechemicals are complex molecules that are expensive to produce, purchaseand use, it is desirable that their activity is not diluted or lost bymigration away from the desired site of action by moisture seepage or byvaporization.

[0012] After the plant has emerged from the soil, foliar spraying ofpesticides is most often used to control those pests that attach theshoots and foliage of the plant. However, a foliar spray must be appliedat a certain time that coincides with the presence and activity of thepest in order to have the most beneficial effect. Application at thistime may be difficult or impossible if, for example, weather conditionslimit access to the field. Moreover, the plants must be monitoredclosely to observe early signs of pest activity in order to apply thepesticide at a time when the pests are most vulnerable.

[0013] Synthetic pyrethroids have been found to give excellent controlof pests of the order of Lepidoptera, such as cutworms, when applied asfoliar spray or as surface-incorporated granules at the time ofplanting. However, since this class of insecticides has very hightoxicity to fish, for example, great care must be taken to limit therunoff of the insecticide from either granules or spray into surfacewaters. Moreover, any foliar spraying must be done at times when thereis little wind, and then only with proper equipment that is carefullymonitored during use.

[0014] It has also been found in some cases with particular pesticidesand application techniques that when two or more of such pesticides areused in particular combination greater efficacy results than when anyone of such pesticides is used alone. Such benefits of combiningpesticides has been reported for combinations of phosmet withdiflubenzuron (U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,927);O-ethyl-O-[4-(methylthio)-phenyl]-S-propyl phosphodithioate andN′-(4-chloro-o-tolyl)-N,N-dimethylformamidine (U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,595);bacillus thuringiensis and chlordimeform (U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,813);decamethrine and dichlorvos with propoxur, if desired, (U.S. Pat. No.4,863,909); fenvalerate and phosmet (U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,287); andphosalone and malathion (U.S. Pat. No. 4.064,237). However, each ofthese combinations was applied directly to the growing plant asdescribed above in the form of sprays or dusts, or applied to the soilaround the plant in the form of, for example, granules.

[0015] WO9740692 discloses combinations of any one of several oxadiazinederivatives with one of a long list of other insecticides. Although theapplication mentions that the combinations can be applied to plantpropagation material for its protection, as well as to plant shoots andleaves, no examples are provided to demonstrate that any one of thecombinations listed is actually efficacious. More pesticide combinationsare described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,415,561, 5,385,926, 5,972,941 and5,952,358. However, in the existing art, little or no guidance has beenfound as methods for predicting which combinations of pesticides willresult in such unexpectedly superior efficacy and which combinationswill not.

[0016] The control of pests by applying insecticides directly to plantseed is well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,144 discloses thatthe European corn borer caused less feeding damage to corn plants grownfrom seed treated with a 1-arylpyrazole compound at a rate of 500 g perquintal of seed than control plants grown from untreated seed. Inaddition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,739 to Turnblad et al. (and its parent,U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,320) disclose a method for controlling soil-borneinsects which involves treating seeds with a coating containing one ormore polymeric binders and an insecticide. This reference provides alist of insecticides that it identifies as candidates for use in thiscoating and also names a number of potential target insects. However,while the 5,876,739 patent states that treating corn seed with a coatingcontaining a particular insecticide protects corn roots from damage bythe corn rootworm, it does not indicate or otherwise suggest thattreatment of corn seed with any particular combinations of insecticidesprovides the seed or the plant with synergistic protection, or with anyother unexpected advantage.

[0017] Thus, although the art of protecting the shoots and foliage—aswell as the seed and roots—of a plant from damage by pests has beenadvancing rapidly, several problems still remain. For example, it wouldbe useful to provide a method for the control of pest damage to shootsand foliage of plants without the requirement of applying a pesticide atthe time of sowing the seed, either as a surface incorporated band, orin-furrow, for example, or requiring a later field application of apesticide during plant growth. It would also be useful if the method forpest control reduced the amount of pesticide that was required toprovide a certain level of protection to the plant. Furthermore, itwould be useful if such a method could be coupled with the biopesticidalactivity of transgenic plants, or with the insecticidal activity ofother active materials to provide a broader scope of protection than isprovided by the transgenic elements, or the insecticidal actives alone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Briefly, therefore, the present invention is directed to a novelmethod for preventing damage by a pest to a seed and/or shoots andfoliage of a plant grown from the seed, the method comprising treatingthe unsown seed with a composition comprising at least one pyrethrin orsynthetic pyrethroid and at least one other insecticide selected fromthe group consisting of an oxadiazine derivative, a chloronicotinyl, anitroguanidine, a pyrrol, a pyrazone, a diacylhydrazine, a triazole, abiological/fermentation product, a phenyl pyrazole, an organophosphateand a carbamate. It is preferred that when the other insecticide is anoxadizine derivative, the pyrethroid is selected from the groupconsisting of taufluvalinate, flumethrin, trans-cyfluthrin, kadethrin,bioresmethrin, tetramethrin, phenothrin, empenthrin, cyphenothrin,prallethrin, imiprothrin, allethrin and bioallethrin. Seeds that havebeen treated by this method are also provided.

[0019] The invention is also directed to a novel composition for thetreatment of unsown seed comprising at least one pyrethrin or syntheticpyrethroid and at least one other insecticide selected from the groupconsisting of an oxadiazine derivative, a chloronicotinyl, anitroguanidine, a pyrrol, a pyrazone, a diacylhydrazine, a triazole, abiological/fermentation product, a phenyl pyrazole, an organophosphateand a carbamate. It is preferred that when the other insecticide is anoxadizine derivative, the pyrethroid is selected from the groupconsisting of taufluvalinate, flumethrin, trans-cyfluthrin, kadethrin,bioresmethrin, tetramethrin, phenothrin, empenthrin, cyphenothrin,prallethrin, imiprothrin, allethrin and bioallethrin.

[0020] The invention is also directed to a novel method for preventingdamage by a pest to a seed and/or shoots and foliage of a plant grownfrom the seed, the method comprising treating the unsown seed with acomposition comprising a nitroguanidine and at least one otherinsecticide selected from the group consisting of a chloronicotinyl, apyrrol, a pyrazone, a diacylhydrazine, a triazole, abiological/fermentation product, a phenyl pyrazole, an organophosphateand a carbamate. Seeds that have been treated by this method are alsoprovided.

[0021] The invention is also directed to a novel composition fortreatment of unsown seed, the composition comprising a nitroguanidineand at least one other insecticide selected from the group consisting ofa chloronicotinyl, a pyrrol, a pyrazone, a diacylhydrazine, a triazole,a biological/fermentation product, a phenyl pyrazole, an organophosphateand a carbamate.

[0022] The invention is also directed to a novel seed that is protectedagainst multiple pests comprising a seed having at least oneheterologous gene encoding for the expression of a protein that isactive against a first pest and, in addition, having adhered thereto acomposition comprising at least one pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroidand at least one other insecticide selected from the group consisting ofan oxadiazine derivative, a chloronicotinyl, a nitroguanidine, a pyrrol,a pyrazone, a diacylhydrazine, a triazole, a biological/fermentationproduct, a phenyl pyrazole, an organophosphate and a carbamate, wherethe composition is present in an amount effective to provide protectionto the shoots and foliage of the plant against damage by at least onesecond pest.

[0023] The invention is also directed to a novel method for treating anunsown seed to prevent damage by a pest to the seed and/or shoots andfoliage of a plant grown from the seed, the method comprising contactingthe unsown seed with a composition comprising at least one pyrethrin orsynthetic pyrethroid and at least one other insecticide selected fromthe group consisting of an oxadiazine derivative, a chloronicotinyl, anitroguanidine, a pyrrol, a pyrazone, a diacylhydrazine, a triazole, abiological/fermentation product, a phenyl pyrazole, an organophosphateand a carbamate, provided that when the other insecticide is anoxadizine derivative, the pyrethroid is selected from the groupconsisting of taufluvalinate, flumethrin, trans-cyfluthrin, kadethrin,bioresmethrin, tetramethrin, phenothrin, empenthrin, cyphenothrin,prallethrin, imiprothrin, allethrin and bioallethrin.

[0024] Among the advantages found to be achieved by the presentinvention, therefore, may be noted the provision of a method for thecontrol of pest damage to seeds and/or shoots and foliage of plantswithout the requirement of applying a pesticide at the time of sowingthe seed, either as a surface incorporated band, or in-furrow, forexample, or requiring a later field application of a pesticide duringplant growth; the provision of a method for pest control that reducesthe amount of pesticide that is required for the provision of a certainlevel of protection to the plant; and the provision of method that canbe coupled with the biopesticidal activity of transgenic plants toselectively broaden the scope of protection that is provided for theshoots and foliage of the transgenic.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] In accordance with the present invention, it has been discoveredthat treatment of unsown plant seeds with a composition that includes aspecific combination of insecticides not only protects the seedsthemselves, but—surprisingly—also provides post-emergent control ofpests that feed on or otherwise damage the shoots and/or foliage of theplant. The combination of insecticides that has been found to achievesuch results is a combination of a pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroid asone component, and with another component comprising one or more ofcertain other insecticides selected from the group consisting of anoxadiazine derivative, a chloronicotinyl, such as imidacloprid,acetamiprid, and nitenpyram; a nitroguanidine; a pyrrol, such aschlorfenapyr; a pyrazole, such as tebufenpyrad; a diacylhydrazine, suchas tebufenozide, methoxyfenozide, and halofenozide; a triazole, such astriazamate; a biological/fermentation product, such as avermectin andspinosad; a phenyl pyrazole, such as fipronil; an organophosphate, suchas acephate, fenamiphos, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifon-methyl andmalathion; and a carbamate, such as carbaryl, aldicarb, carbofuran,thiodicarb and oxamyl. It is preferred, however, that if the otherinsecticide is an oxadiazine derivative, the pyrethroid should beselected from the group consisting of taufluvalinate, flumethrin,trans-cyfluthrin, kadethrin, bioresmethrin, tetramethrin, phenothrin,empenthrin, cyphenothrin, prallethrin, imiprothrin, allethrin andbioallethrin.

[0026] In preferred embodiments, the combination of the insecticidesprovides unexpectedly superior protection in that the combination of theinsecticides provides a level of protection to the seed and/or the plantthat is superior to the level of protection that—based on the currentstate of the art—would be predicted from the protection provided by theindividual components applied separately. This synergistic activityreduces the total amount of pesticide that is required to provide acertain level of protection. In addition to being more economical touse, the ability to use a reduced amount of pesticide for a given levelof protection is advantageous in that seed treatments with reducedamounts of insecticides are less phytotoxic to the seed than when theinsecticides are used separately.

[0027] Another advantage of the novel treatment is that it can be usedwith transgenic seeds of the type having a heterologous gene encodingfor the expression of a pesticidal protein in the transgenic plant thatgrows from the seed. Treating such a seed with a pesticide provides theability to protect against one pest with the transgenic trait and toprovide surprisingly enhanced protection against the same pest, and/orto protect against other pests with the subject combination ofinsecticides.

[0028] As used herein, the terms “pesticidal effect” and “pesticidalactivity” mean any direct or indirect action on the target pest thatresults in reduced feeding damage on the seeds, roots, shoots andfoliage of plants grown from treated seeds as compared to plants grownfrom untreated seeds. The terms “active against a (first or second)pest”, also have the same meaning. Such direct or indirect actionsinclude inducing death of the pest, repelling the pest from the plantseeds, roots, shoots and/or foliage, inhibiting feeding of the pest on,or the laying of its eggs on, the plant seeds, roots, shoots and/orfoliage, and inhibiting or preventing reproduction of the pest. The term“insecticidal activity” has the same meaning as pesticidal activity,except it is limited to those instances where the pest is an insect.When the term “pesticide” is used herein, it is not meant to includepesticides that are produced by the particular seed or the plant thatgrows from the particular seed that is treated with the pesticide.

[0029] As used herein, the “shoots and foliage” of a plant are to beunderstood to be the shoots, stems, branches, leaves and otherappendages of the stems and branches of the plant after the seed hassprouted, but not including the roots of the plant. It is preferablethat the shoots and foliage of a plant be understood to be thosenon-root parts of the plant that have grown from the seed and arelocated a distance of at least one inch away from the seed from whichthey emerged (outside the region of the seed), and more preferably, tobe the non-root parts of the plant that are at or above the surface ofthe soil. As used herein, the “region of the seed” is to be understoodto be that region within about one inch of the seed.

[0030] Pesticides suitable for use in the invention include pyrethrinsand synthetic pyrethroids; oxadizine derivatives; chloronicotinyls;nitroguanidine derivatives; triazoles; organophosphates; pyrrols;pyrazoles; phenyl pyrazoles; diacylhydrazines; biological/fermentationproducts; and carbamates. Further information about pesticides of thetypes listed above can be found in The Pesticide Manual, 11th Ed., C. D.S. Tomlin, Ed., British Crop Protection Council, Farnham, Surry, UK(1997).

[0031] Pyrethroids that are useful in the present composition includepyrethrins and synthetic pyrethroids. The pyrethrins that are preferredfor use in the present method include, without limitation,2-allyl-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one ester of2,2-dimethyl-3-(2methyl propenyl)-cyclopropane carboxylic acid, and/or(2-methyl-1-propenyl)-2-methoxy-4-oxo-3-(2 propenyl)-2-cyclopenten-1-ylester and mixtures of cis and trans isomers thereof (Chemical AbstractsService Registry Number (“CAS RN”) 8003-34-7).

[0032] Synthetic pyrethroids that are preferred for use in the presentinvention include (s)-cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl 4-chloro alpha(1-methylethyl)benzeneacetate (fenvalerate; CAS RN 51630-58-1);(S)-cyano (3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl(S)-4-chloro-alpha-(1-methylethyl)benzeneacetate (esfenvalerate; CAS RN66230-04-4);(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl(+)cis-trans-3-(2,2-dichoroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate(permethrin; CAS RN 52645-53-1); (±)alpha-cyano-(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl(+)-cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylate (cypermethrin; CAS RN 52315-07-8); (beta-cypermethrin; CASRN 65731-84-2); (theta cypermethrin; CAS RN 71697-59-1); S-cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl (±) cis/trans 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl) 2,2dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate (zeta-cypermethrin; CAS RN 52315-07-8);(s)-alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl(IR,3R)-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl cyclopropanecarboxylate(deltamethrin; CAS RN 52918-63-5); alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl2,2,3,3,-tetramethyl cyclopropoanecarboxylate (fenpropathrin; CAS RN64257-84-7);(RS)-alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl(R)-2-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)anilino]-3-methylbutanoate(tau-fluvalinate; CAS RN 102851-06-9);(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-methylphenyl)-methyl-(1 alpha, 3alpha)-(Z)-(±)-3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate(tefluthrin; CAS RN 79538-32-2); (±)-cyano (3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl(±)-4-(difluoromethoxy)-alpha-(1-methyl ethyl)benzeneacetate(flucythrinate; CAS RN 70124-77-5);cyano(4-fluoro-3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl3-[2-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate(flumethrin; CAS RN 69770-45-2); cyano(4-fluoro-3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropanedarboxylate(cyfluthrin; CAS RN 68359-37-5); (beta cyfluthrin; CAS RN 68359-37-5);(transfluthrin; CAS RN 118712-89-3);(S)-alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl(Z)-(IR-cis)-2,2-dimethyl-3-[2-(2,2,2-trifluoro-trifluoromethyl-ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl]cyclopropanecarboxylate (acrinathrin; CAS RN 101007-06-1); (IR cis) S and (IS cis) Renantiomer isomer pair ofalpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl-3-(2,2dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (alpha-cypermethrin; CAS RN 67375-30-8);[IR,3S)3(1′RS)(1′,2′,2′,2′-tetrabromoethyl)]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (s)-alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl ester(tralomethrin; CAS RN 66841-25-6); cyano-(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl2,2-dichloro-1-(4-ethoxyphenyl)cyclopropane carboxylate (cycloprothrin;CAS RN 63935-38-6); [1α,3α(Z)]-(±)-cyano-(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl)-2,2-cimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate(cyhalothrin; CAS RN 68085-85-8); [1 alpha (s), 3alpha(z)]-cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl-3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (lambda cyhalothrin; CAS RN 91465-08-6); (2-methyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylate(bifenthrin; CAS RN 82657-04-3);5-1-benzyl-3-furylmethyl-d-cis(1R,3S,E)2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-oxo,-2,2,4,5tetrahydro thiophenylidenemethyl)cyclopropane carboxylate (kadethrin,RU15525; CAS RN 58769-20-3); [5-(phenyl methyl)-3-furanyl]-3-furanyl2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methyl-1-propenyl)cyclopropane carboxylate(resmethrin; CAS RN 10453-86-8);(1R-trans)-[5-(phenylmethyl)-3-furanyl]methyl2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methyl-1-propenyl)cyclopropanecarboxylate(bioresmethrin; CAS RN 28434-01-7); 3,4,5,6-tetra hydro-phthalimidomethyl-(IRS)-cis-trans-chrysanthemate (tetramethrin; CAS RN7696-12-0); 3-phenoxybenzyl-d,I-cis,trans2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methylpropenyl)cyclopropane carboxylate (phenothrin;CAS RN 26002-80-2); (empenthrin; CAS RN 54406-48-3); (cyphenothrin; CASRN 39515-40-7); (prallethrin; CAS RN 23031-36-9); (imiprothrin; CAS RN72963-72-5); (RS)-3-allyl-2-methyl-4-oxcyclopent-2-enyl-(1A,3R;1R,3S)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)cyclopropane carboxylate(allethrin; CAS RN 584-79-2); (bioallethrin; CAS RN 584-79-2); and(ZXI8901; CAS RN 160791-64-0). It is believed that mixtures of one ormore of the aforementioned synthetic pyrethroids can also be used in thepresent invention.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, particularlypreferred synthetic pyrethroids are tefluthrin, lambda cyhalothrin,bifenthrin, permethrin and cyfluthrin. Even more preferred syntheticpyrethroids are tefluthrin and lambda cyhalothrin.

[0034] In another embodiment of the invention—where an oxadiazinederivative is used as one of the combination of insecticides—thepreferred synthetic pyrethroid is selected from the group consisting oftaufluvalinate, flumethrin, trans-cyfluthrin, kadethrin, bioresmethrin,tetramethrin, phenothrin, empenthrin, cyphenothrin, prallethrin,imiprothrin, allethrin and bioallethrin.

[0035] The pyrethrins and synthetic pyrethroids that are useful in thepresent compositions can be of any grade or purity that pass in thetrade as pyrethrins and synthetic pyrethroids. Other materials thataccompany the pyrethrins and synthetic pyrethroids in commercialpreparations as impurities can be tolerated in the subject compositions,as long as such other materials do not destabilize the composition orsignificantly reduce or destroy the activity of any of the insecticidecomponents against the target pest. One of ordinary skill in the art ofthe production of insecticides can readily identify those impuritiesthat can be tolerated and those that cannot.

[0036] Insecticides that are oxadiazine derivatives are useful as one ofthe components of the subject composition. Oxadizine derivatives thatare preferred for use in the present invention include5-(2-chloropyrid-5-ylmethyl)-3-methyl-4-nitroiminoperhydro-1,3,5-oxadiazine;3-methyl-4-nitroimino-5-(1-oxido-3-pyridinomethyl)perhydro-1,3,5-oxadiazine;5-(2-chloro-1-oxido-5-pyridiniomethyl)-3-methyl-4-nitroiminoperhydro-1,3,5-oxidiazine;and3-methyl-5-(2-methylpyrid-5-ylmethyl)-4-nitroiminoperhydro-1,3,5-oxadiazine.

[0037] Chloronicotinyl insecticides are also useful as one of thecomponents of the subject composition. Chloronicotinyls that arepreferred for use in the subject composition include acetamiprid((E)-N-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-N′-cyano-N-methyleneimidamide; CASRN 135410-20-7); imidacloprid(1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methol]-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimime; CAS RN138261-41-3); and nitenpyram(N-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-N-ethyl-N′-methyl-2-nitro-1,1-ethenediamine;CAS RN 120738-89-8).

[0038] Nitroguanidine insecticides are useful as one of the componentsof the present combination. Nitroguanidines that are preferred for usein the present invention include MTI 446 (nidinotefuran).

[0039] Pyrrols, pyrazoles and phenyl pyrazoles that are useful in thepresent composition include those that are described in U.S. Pat. No.5,952,358. Preferred pyrazoles include chlorfenapyr(4-bromo-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-ethoxymethyl-5-trifluoromethylpyrrole-3-carbonitrile;CAS RN 122453-73-0); fenpyroximate((E)-1,1-dimethylethyl-4[[[[(1,3-dimethyl-5-phenoxy-1H-pyrazole-4-yl)methylene]amino]oxy]methyl]benzoate;CAS RN 111812-58-9); and tebufenpyrad(4-chloro-N[[4-1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl]methyl]-3-ethyl-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide;CAS RN 119168-77-3). A preferred phenyl pyrazole is fipronil(5-amino-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[(1R,S)-(trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl]-1H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile;CAS RN 120068-37-3).

[0040] Diacylhydrazines that are useful in the present invention includehalofenozide(4-chlorobenzoate-2-benzoyl-2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-hydrazide; CAS RN112226-61-6); methoxyfenozide (RH-2485;N-tert-butyl-N′-(3-methoxy-o-toluoyl)-3,5-xylohydrazide; CAS RN161050-58-4); and tebufenozide (3,5-dimethylbenzoic acid1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2,(4-ethylbenzoyl)hydrazide; CAS RN 112410-23-8).

[0041] Triazoles, such as amitrole (CAS RN 61-82-5) and triazamate areuseful in the composition of the present invention. A preferred triazoleis triazamate(ethyl[[1-[(dimethylamino)carbonyl]-3-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl]thio]acetate;CAS RN 112143-82-5).

[0042] Biological/fermentation products, such as avermectin (abamectin;CAS RN 71751-41-2) and spinosad (XDE-105, CAS RN 131929-60-7) are usefulin the present composition.

[0043] Organophosphate insecticides are also useful as one of thecomponents of the composition of the present invention. Preferredorganophophate insecticides include acephate (CAS RN 30560-19-1);chlorpyrifos (CAS RN 2921-88-2); chlorpyrifos-methyl (CAS RN 5598-13-0);diazinon (CAS RN 333-41-5); fenamiphos (CAS RN 22224-92-6); andmalathion (CAS RN 121-75-5).

[0044] In addition, carbamate insecticides are useful in the subjectcomposition. Preferred carbamate insecticides are aldicarb (CAS RN116-06-3); carbaryl (CAS RN 63-25-2); carbofuran (CAS RN 1563-66-2);oxamyl (CAS RN 23135-22-0) and thiodicarb (CAS RN 59669-26-0).

[0045] When an insecticide is described herein, it is to be understoodthat the description is intended to include salt forms of theinsecticide as well as any isomeric and/or tautomeric form of theinsecticide that exhibits the same insecticidal activity as the form ofthe insecticide that is described.

[0046] One embodiment of this invention comprises treating a seed with acomposition comprising at least one pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroidand at least one other insecticide selected from the group consisting ofa chloronicotinyl, a nitroguanidine, a pyrrol, a pyrazole, adiacylhydrazine, a triazole, a biological/fermentation product, a phenylpyrazole, an organophosphate and a carbamate. The treatment is appliedto the seed prior to sowing the seed so that the sowing operation issimplified. In this manner, seeds can be treated, for example, at acentral location and then dispersed for planting. This permits theperson who plants the seeds to avoid the handling and use ofinsecticides—some of which can be toxic—and to merely handle and plantthe treated seeds in a manner that is conventional for regular untreatedseeds. It is preferred, in some combinations that at least one of thepyrethroid and the other insecticide is a systemic insecticide.

[0047] In this embodiment, a seed can be treated with any one of thecombinations of insecticides that are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1Combinations of pyrethroids and other non-pyrethroid insecticides thatprovide synergistic insecticidal activity^(a). COMPOSITION NO.PYRETHROID OTHER INSECTICIDE 1 lambda-cyhalothrin acetamiprid 2lambda-cyhalothrin imidacloprid 3 lambda-cyhalothrin nitenpyram 4lambda-cyhalothrin nidinotefuran 5 lambda-cyhalothrin chlorfenapyr 6lambda-cyhalothrin fenpyroximate 7 lambda-cyhalothrin tebufenpyrad 8lambda-cyhalothrin fipronil 9 lambda-cyhalothrin tebufenozide 10lambda-cyhalothrin methoxyfenozide 11 lambda-cyhalothrin halofenozide 12lambda-cyhalothrin triazamate 13 lambda-cyhalothrin avermectin 14lambda-cyhalothrin spinosad 15 lambda-cyhalothrin acephate 16lambda-cyhalothrin fenamiphos 17 lambda-cyhalothrin diazinon 18lambda-cyhalothrin chlorpyrifos 19 lambda-cyhalothrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 20 lambda-cyhalothrin malathion 21lambda-cyhalothrin carbaryl 22 lambda-cyhalothrin aldicarb 23lambda-cyhalothrin carbofuran 24 lambda-cyhalothrin thiodicarb 25lambda-cyhalothrin oxamyl 26 tefluthrin acetamiprid 27 tefluthrinimidacloprid 28 tefluthrin nitenpyram 29 tefluthrin nidinotefuran 30tefluthrin chlorfenapyr 31 tefluthrin fenpyroximate 32 tefluthrintebufenpyrad 33 tefluthrin fipronil 34 tefluthrin tebufenozide 35tefluthrin methoxyfenozide 36 tefluthrin halofenozide 37 tefluthrintriazamate 38 tefluthrin avermectin 39 tefluthrin spinosad 40 tefluthrinacephate 41 tefluthrin fenamiphos 42 tefluthrin diazinon 43 tefluthrinchlorpyrifos 44 tefluthrin chlorpyrifos-methyl 45 tefluthrin malathion46 tefluthrin carbaryl 47 tefluthrin aldicarb 48 tefluthrin carbofuran49 tefluthrin thiodicarb 50 tefluthrin oxamyl 51 cyfluthrin acetamiprid52 cyfluthrin imidacloprid 53 cyfluthrin nitenpyram 54 cyfluthrinnidinotefuran 55 cyfluthrin chlorfenapyr 56 cyfluthrin fenpyroximate 57cyfluthrin tebufenpyrad 58 cyfluthrin fipronil 59 cyfluthrintebufenozide 60 cyfluthrin methoxyfenozide 61 cyfluthrin halofenozide 62cyfluthrin triazamate 63 cyfluthrin avermectin 64 cyfluthrin spinosad 65cyfluthrin acephate 66 cyfluthrin fenamiphos 67 cyfluthrin diazinon 68cyfluthrin chlorpyrifos 69 cyfluthrin chlorpyrifos-methyl 70 cyfluthrinmalathion 71 cyfluthrin carbaryl 72 cyfluthrin aldicarb 73 cyfluthrincarbofuran 74 cyfluthrin thiodicarb 75 cyfluthrin oxamyl 76 bifenthrinacetamiprid 77 bifenthrin imidacloprid 78 bifenthrin nitenpyram 79bifenthrin nidinotefuran 80 bifenthrin chlorfenapyr 81 bifenthrinfenpyroximate 82 bifenthrin tebufenpyrad 83 bifenthrin fipronil 84bifenthrin tebufenozide 85 bifenthrin methoxyfenozide 86 bifenthrinhalofenozide 87 bifenthrin triazamate 88 bifenthrin avermectin 89bifenthrin spinosad 90 bifenthrin acephate 91 bifenthrin fenamiphos 92bifenthrin diazinon 93 bifenthrin chlorpyrifos 94 bifenthrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 95 bifenthrin malathion 96 bifenthrin carbaryl 97bifenthrin aldicarb 98 bifenthrin carbofuran 99 bifenthrin thiodicarb100 bifenthrin oxamyl 101 fenvalerate acetamiprid 102 fenvalerateimidacloprid 103 fenvalerate nitenpyram 104 fenvalerate nidinotefuran105 fenvalerate chlorfenapyr 106 fenvalerate fenpyroximate 107fenvalerate tebufenpyrad 108 fenvalerate fipronil 109 fenvaleratetebufenozide 110 fenvalerate methoxyfenozide 111 fenvaleratehalofenozide 112 fenvalerate triazamate 113 fenvalerate avermectin 114fenvalerate spinosad 115 fenvalerate acephate 116 fenvalerate fenamiphos117 fenvalerate diazinon 118 fenvalerate chlorpyrifos 119 fenvaleratechlorpyrifos-methyl 120 fenvalerate malathion 121 fenvalerate carbaryl122 fenvalerate aldicarb 123 fenvalerate carbofuran 124 fenvaleratethiodicarb 125 fenvalerate oxamyl 126 esfenvalerate acetamiprid 127esfenvalerate imidacloprid 128 esfenvalerate nitenpyram 129esfenvalerate nidinotefuran 130 esfenvalerate chlorfenapyr 131esfenvalerate fenpyroximate 132 esfenvalerate tebufenpyrad 133esfenvalerate fipronil 134 esfenvalerate tebufenozide 135 esfenvaleratemethoxyfenozide 136 esfenvalerate halofenozide 137 esfenvaleratetriazamate 138 esfenvalerate avermectin 139 esfenvalerate spinosad 140esfenvalerate acephate 141 esfenvalerate fenamiphos 142 esfenvaleratediazinon 143 esfenvalerate chlorpyrifos 144 esfenvaleratechlorpyrifos-methyl 145 esfenvalerate malathion 146 esfenvaleratecarbaryl 147 esfenvalerate aldicarb 148 esfenvalerate carbofuran 149esfenvalerate thiodicarb 150 esfenvalerate oxamyl 151 permethrinacetamiprid 152 permethrin imidacloprid 153 permethrin nitenpyram 154permethrin nidinotefuran 155 permethrin chlorfenapyr 156 permethrinfenpyroximate 157 permethrin tebufenpyrad 158 permethrin fipronil 159permethrin tebufenozide 160 permethrin methoxyfenozide 161 permethrinhalofenozide 162 permethrin triazamate 163 permethrin avermectin 164permethrin spinosad 165 permethrin acephate 166 permethrin fenamiphos167 permethrin diazinon 168 permethrin chlorpyrifos 169 permethrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 170 permethrin malathion 171 permethrin carbaryl 172permethrin aldicarb 173 permethrin carbofuran 174 permethrin thiodicarb175 permethrin oxamyl 176 cypermethrin acetamiprid 177 cypermethrinimidacloprid 178 cypermethrin nitenpyram 179 cypermethrin nidinotefuran180 cypermethrin chlorfenapyr 181 cypermethrin fenpyroximate 182cypermethrin tebufenpyrad 183 cypermethrin fipronil 184 cypermethrintebufenozide 185 cypermethrin methoxyfenozide 186 cypermethrinhalofenozide 187 cypermethrin triazamate 188 cypermethrin avermectin 189cypermethrin spinosad 190 cypermethrin acephate 191 cypermethrinfenamiphos 192 cypermethrin diazinon 193 cypermethrin chlorpyrifos 194cypermethrin chlorpyrifos-methyl 195 cypermethrin malathion 196cypermethrin carbaryl 197 cypermethrin aldicarb 198 cypermethrincarbofuran 199 cypermethrin thiodicarb 200 cypermethrin oxamyl 201beta-cypermethrin acetamiprid 202 beta-cypermethrin imidacloprid 203beta-cypermethrin nitenpyram 204 beta-cypermethrin nidinotefuran 205beta-cypermethrin chlorfenapyr 206 beta-cypermethrin fenpyroximate 207beta-cypermethrin tebufenpyrad 208 beta-cypermethrin fipronil 209beta-cypermethrin tebufenozide 210 beta-cypermethrin methoxyfenozide 211beta-cypermethrin halofenozide 212 beta-cypermethrin triazamate 213beta-cypermethrin avermectin 214 beta-cypermethrin spinosad 215beta-cypermethrin acephate 216 beta-cypermethrin fenamiphos 217beta-cypermethrin diazinon 218 beta-cypermethrin chlorpyrifos 219beta-cypermethrin chlorpyrifos-methyl 220 beta-cypermethrin malathion221 beta-cypermethrin carbaryl 222 beta-cypermethrin aldicarb 223beta-cypermethrin carbofuran 224 beta-cypermethrin thiodicarb 225beta-cypermethrin oxamyl 226 theta-cypermethrin acetamiprid 227theta-cypermethrin imidacloprid 228 theta-cypermethrin nitenpyram 229theta-cypermethrin nidinotefuran 230 theta-cypermethrin chlorfenapyr 231theta-cypermethrin fenpyroximate 232 theta-cypermethrin tebufenpyrad 233theta-cypermethrin fipronil 234 theta-cypermethrin tebufenozide 235theta-cypermethrin methoxyfenozide 236 theta-cypermethrin halofenozide237 theta-cypermethrin triazamate 238 theta-cypermethrin avermectin 239theta-cypermethrin spinosad 240 theta-cypermethrin acephate 241theta-cypermethrin fenamiphos 242 theta-cypermethrin diazinon 243theta-cypermethrin chlorpyrifos 244 theta-cypermethrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 245 theta-cypermethrin malathion 246theta-cypermethrin carbaryl 247 theta-cypermethrin aldicarb 248theta-cypermethrin carbofuran 249 theta-cypermethrin thiodicarb 250theta-cypermethrin oxamyl 251 zeta-cypermethrin acetamiprid 252zeta-cypermethrin imidacloprid 253 zeta-cypermethrin nitenpyram 254zeta-cypermethrin nidinotefuran 255 zeta-cypermethrin chlorfenapyr 256zeta-cypermethrin fenpyroximate 257 zeta-cypermethrin tebufenpyrad 258zeta-cypermethrin fipronil 259 zeta-cypermethrin tebufenozide 260zeta-cypermethrin methoxyfenozide 261 zeta-cypermethrin halofenozide 262zeta-cypermethrin triazamate 263 zeta-cypermethrin avermectin 264zeta-cypermethrin spinosad 265 zeta-cypermethrin acephate 266zeta-cypermethrin fenamiphos 267 zeta-cypermethrin diazinon 268zeta-cypermethrin chlorpyrifos 269 zeta-cypermethrin chlorpyrifos-methyl270 zeta-cypermethrin malathion 271 zeta-cypermethrin carbaryl 272zeta-cypermethrin aldicarb 273 zeta-cypermethrin carbofuran 274zeta-cypermethrin thiodicarb 275 zeta-cypermethrin oxamyl 276deltamethrin acetamiprid 277 deltamethrin imidacloprid 278 deltamethrinnitenpyram 279 deltamethrin nidinotefuran 280 deltamethrin chlorfenapyr281 deltamethrin fenpyroximate 282 deltamethrin tebufenpyrad 283deltamethrin fipronil 284 deltamethrin tebufenozide 285 deltamethrinmethoxyfenozide 286 deltamethrin halofenozide 287 deltamethrintriazamate 288 deltamethrin avermectin 289 deltamethrin spinosad 290deltamethrin acephate 291 deltamethrin fenamiphos 292 deltamethrindiazinon 293 deltamethrin chlorpyrifos 294 deltamethrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 295 deltamethrin malathion 296 deltamethrin carbaryl297 deltamethrin aldicarb 298 deltamethrin carbofuran 299 deltamethrinthiodicarb 300 deltamethrin oxamyl 301 fenpropathrin acetamiprid 302fenpropathrin imidacloprid 303 fenpropathrin nitenpyram 304fenpropathrin nidinotefuran 305 fenpropathrin chlorfenapyr 306fenpropathrin fenpyroximate 307 fenpropathrin tebufenpyrad 308fenpropathrin fipronil 309 fenpropathrin tebufenozide 310 fenpropathrinmethoxyfenozide 311 fenpropathrin halofenozide 312 fenpropathrintriazamate 313 fenpropathrin avermectin 314 fenpropathrin spinosad 315fenpropathrin acephate 316 fenpropathrin fenamiphos 317 fenpropathrindiazinon 318 fenpropathrin chlorpyrifos 319 fenpropathrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 320 fenpropathrin malathion 321 fenpropathrincarbaryl 322 fenpropathrin aldicarb 323 fenpropathrin carbofuran 324fenpropathrin thiodicarb 325 fenpropathrin oxamyl 326 taufluvalinateacetamiprid 327 taufluvalinate imidacloprid 328 taufluvalinatenitenpyram 329 taufluvalinate nidinotefuran 330 taufluvalinatechlorfenapyr 331 taufluvalinate fenpyroximate 332 taufluvalinatetebufenpyrad 333 taufluvalinate fipronil 334 taufluvalinate tebufenozide335 taufluvalinate methoxyfenozide 336 taufluvalinate halofenozide 337taufluvalinate triazamate 338 taufluvalinate avermectin 339taufluvalinate spinosad 340 taufluvalinate acephate 341 taufluvalinatefenamiphos 342 taufluvalinate diazinon 343 taufluvalinate chlorpyrifos344 taufluvalinate chlorpyrifos-methyl 345 taufluvalinate malathion 346taufluvalinate carbaryl 347 taufluvalinate aldicarb 348 taufluvalinatecarbofuran 349 taufluvalinate thiodicarb 350 taufluvalinate oxamyl 351flucythrinate acetamiprid 352 flucythrinate imidacloprid 353flucythrinate nitenpyram 354 flucythrinate nidinotefuran 355flucythrinate chlorfenapyr 356 flucythrinate fenpyroximate 357flucythrinate tebufenpyrad 358 flucythrinate fipronil 359 flucythrinatetebufenozide 360 flucythrinate methoxyfenozide 361 flucythrinatehalofenozide 362 flucythrinate triazamate 363 flucythrinate avermectin364 flucythrinate spinosad 365 flucythrinate acephate 366 flucythrinatefenamiphos 367 flucythrinate diazinon 368 flucythrinate chlorpyrifos 369flucythrinate chlorpyrifos-methyl 370 flucythrinate malathion 371flucythrinate carbaryl 372 flucythrinate aldicarb 373 flucythrinatecarbofuran 374 flucythrinate thiodicarb 375 flucythrinate oxamyl 376flumethrin acetamiprid 377 flumethrin imidacloprid 378 flumethrinnitenpyram 379 flumethrin nidinotefuran 380 flumethrin chlorfenapyr 381flumethrin fenpyroximate 382 flumethrin tebufenpyrad 383 flumethrinfipronil 384 flumethrin tebufenozide 385 flumethrin methoxyfenozide 386flumethrin halofenozide 387 flumethrin triazamate 388 flumethrinavermectin 389 flumethrin spinosad 390 flumethrin acephate 391flumethrin fenamiphos 392 flumethrin diazinon 393 flumethrinchlorpyrifos 394 flumethrin chlorpyrifos-methyl 395 flumethrin malathion396 flumethrin carbaryl 397 flumethrin aldicarb 398 flumethrincarbofuran 399 flumethrin thiodicarb 400 flumethrin oxamyl 401beta-cyfluthrin acetamiprid 402 beta-cyfluthrin imidacloprid 403beta-cyfluthrin nitenpyram 404 beta-cyfluthrin nidinotefuran 405beta-cyfluthrin chlorfenapyr 406 beta-cyfluthrin fenpyroximate 407beta-cyfluthrin tebufenpyrad 408 beta-cyfluthrin fipronil 409beta-cyfluthrin tebufenozide 410 beta-cyfluthrin methoxyfenozide 411beta-cyfluthrin halofenozide 412 beta-cyfluthrin triazamate 413beta-cyfluthrin avermectin 414 beta-cyfluthrin spinosad 415beta-cyfluthrin acephate 416 beta-cyfluthrin fenamiphos 417beta-cyfluthrin diazinon 418 beta-cyfluthrin chlorpyrifos 419beta-cyfluthrin chlorpyrifos-methyl 420 beta-cyfluthrin malathion 421beta-cyfluthrin carbaryl 422 beta-cyfluthrin aldicarb 423beta-cyfluthrin carbofuran 424 beta-cyfluthrin thiodicarb 425beta-cyfluthrin oxamyl 426 trans-cyfluthrin acetamiprid 427trans-cyfluthrin imidacloprid 428 trans-cyfluthrin nitenpyram 429trans-cyfluthrin nidinotefuran 430 trans-cyfluthrin chlorfenapyr 431trans-cyfluthrin fenpyroximate 432 trans-cyfluthrin tebufenpyrad 433trans-cyfluthrin fipronil 434 trans-cyfluthrin tebufenozide 435trans-cyfluthrin methoxyfenozide 436 trans-cyfluthrin halofenozide 437trans-cyfluthrin triazamate 438 trans-cyfluthrin avermectin 439trans-cyfluthrin spinosad 440 trans-cyfluthrin acephate 441trans-cyfluthrin fenamiphos 442 trans-cyfluthrin diazinon 443trans-cyfluthrin chlorpyrifos 444 trans-cyfluthrin chlorpyrifos-methyl445 trans-cyfluthrin malathion 446 trans-cyfluthrin carbaryl 447trans-cyfluthrin aldicarb 448 trans-cyfluthrin carbofuran 449trans-cyfluthrin thiodicarb 450 trans-cyfluthrin oxamyl 451 acrinathrinacetamiprid 452 acrinathrin imidacloprid 453 acrinathrin nitenpyram 454acrinathrin nidinotefuran 455 acrinathrin chlorfenapyr 456 acrinathrinfenpyroximate 457 acrinathrin tebufenpyrad 458 acrinathrin fipronil 459acrinathrin tebufenozide 460 acrinathrin methoxyfenozide 461 acrinathrinhalofenozide 462 acrinathrin triazamate 463 acrinathrin avermectin 464acrinathrin spinosad 465 acrinathrin acephate 466 acrinathrin fenamiphos467 acrinathrin diazinon 468 acrinathrin chlorpyrifos 469 acrinathrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 470 acrinathrin malathion 471 acrinathrin carbaryl472 acrinathrin aldicarb 473 acrinathrin carbofuran 474 acrinathrinthiodicarb 475 acrinathrin oxamyl 476 alphacypermethrin acetamiprid 477alphacypermethrin imidacloprid 478 alphacypermethrin nitenpyram 479alphacypermethrin nidinotefuran 480 alphacypermethrin chlorfenapyr 481alphacypermethrin fenpyroximate 482 alphacypermethrin tebufenpyrad 483alphacypermethrin fipronil 484 alphacypermethrin tebufenozide 485alphacypermethrin methoxyfenozide 486 alphacypermethrin halofenozide 487alphacypermethrin triazamate 488 alphacypermethrin avermectin 489alphacypermethrin spinosad 490 alphacypermethrin acephate 491alphacypermethrin fenamiphos 492 alphacypermethrin diazinon 493alphacypermethrin chlorpyrifos 494 alphacypermethrin chlorpyrifos-methyl495 alphacypermethrin malathion 496 alphacypermethrin carbaryl 497alphacypermethrin aldicarb 498 alphacypermethrin carbofuran 499alphacypermethrin thiodicarb 500 alphacypermethrin oxamyl 501tralomethrin acetamiprid 502 tralomethrin imidacloprid 503 tralomethrinnitenpyram 504 tralomethrin nidinotefuran 505 tralomethrin chlorfenapyr506 tralomethrin fenpyroximate 507 tralomethrin tebufenpyrad 508tralomethrin fipronil 509 tralomethrin tebufenozide 510 tralomethrinmethoxyfenozide 511 tralomethrin halofenozide 512 tralomethrintriazamate 513 tralomethrin avermectin 514 tralomethrin spinosad 515tralomethrin acephate 516 tralomethrin fenamiphos 517 tralomethrindiazinon 518 tralomethrin chlorpyrifos 519 tralomethrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 520 tralomethrin malathion 521 tralomethrin carbaryl522 tralomethrin aldicarb 523 tralomethrin carbofuran 524 tralomethrinthiodicarb 525 tralomethrin oxamyl 526 cycloprothrin acetamiprid 527cycloprothrin imidacloprid 528 cycloprothrin nitenpyram 529cycloprothrin nidinotefuran 530 cycloprothrin chlorfenapyr 531cycloprothrin fenpyroximate 532 cycloprothrin tebufenpyrad 533cycloprothrin fipronil 534 cycloprothrin tebufenozide 535 cycloprothrinmethoxyfenozide 536 cycloprothrin halofenozide 537 cycloprothrintriazamate 538 cycloprothrin avermectin 539 cycloprothrin spinosad 540cycloprothrin acephate 541 cycloprothrin fenamiphos 542 cycloprothrindiazinon 543 cycloprothrin chlorpyrifos 544 cycloprothrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 545 cycloprothrin malathion 546 cycloprothrincarbaryl 547 cycloprothrin aldicarb 548 cycloprothrin carbofuran 549cycloprothrin thiodicarb 550 cycloprothrin oxamyl 551 kadethrinacetamiprid 552 kadethrin imidacloprid 553 kadethrin nitenpyram 554kadethrin nidinotefuran 555 kadethrin chlorfenapyr 556 kadethrinfenpyroximate 557 kadethrin tebufenpyrad 558 kadethrin fipronil 559kadethrin tebufenozide 560 kadethrin methoxyfenozide 561 kadethrinhalofenozide 562 kadethrin triazamate 563 kadethrin avermectin 564kadethrin spinosad 565 kadethrin acephate 566 kadethrin fenamiphos 567kadethrin diazinon 568 kadethrin chlorpyrifos 569 kadethrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 570 kadethrin malathion 571 kadethrin carbaryl 572kadethrin aldicarb 573 kadethrin carbofuran 574 kadethrin thiodicarb 575kadethrin oxamyl 576 resmethrin acetamiprid 577 resmethrin imidacloprid578 resmethrin nitenpyram 579 resmethrin nidinotefuran 580 resmethrinchlorfenapyr 581 resmethrin fenpyroximate 582 resmethrin tebufenpyrad583 resmethrin fipronil 584 resmethrin tebufenozide 585 resmethrinmethoxyfenozide 586 resmethrin halofenozide 587 resmethrin triazamate588 resmethrin avermectin 589 resmethrin spinosad 590 resmethrinacephate 591 resmethrin fenamiphos 592 resmethrin diazinon 593resmethrin chlorpyrifos 594 resmethrin chlorpyrifos-methyl 595resmethrin malathion 596 resmethrin carbaryl 597 resmethrin aldicarb 598resmethrin carbofuran 599 resmethrin thiodicarb 600 resmethrin oxamyl601 bioresmethrin acetamiprid 602 bioresmethrin imidacloprid 603bioresmethrin nitenpyram 604 bioresmethrin nidinotefuran 605bioresmethrin chlorfenapyr 606 bioresmethrin fenpyroximate 607bioresmethrin tebufenpyrad 608 bioresmethrin fipronil 609 bioresmethrintebufenozide 610 bioresmethrin methoxyfenozide 611 bioresmethrinhalofenozide 612 bioresmethrin triazamate 613 bioresmethrin avermectin614 bioresmethrin spinosad 615 bioresmethrin acephate 616 bioresmethrinfenamiphos 617 bioresmethrin diazinon 618 bioresmethrin chlorpyrifos 619bioresmethrin chlorpyrifos-methyl 620 bioresmethrin malathion 621bioresmethrin carbaryl 622 bioresmethrin aldicarb 623 bioresmethrincarbofuran 624 bioresmethrin thiodicarb 625 bioresmethrin oxamyl 626tetramethrin acetamiprid 627 tetramethrin imidacloprid 628 tetramethrinnitenpyram 629 tetramethrin nidinotefuran 630 tetramethrin chlorfenapyr631 tetramethrin fenpyroximate 632 tetramethrin tebufenpyrad 633tetramethrin fipronil 634 tetramethrin tebufenozide 635 tetramethrinmethoxyfenozide 636 tetramethrin halofenozide 637 tetramethrintriazamate 638 tetramethrin avermectin 639 tetramethrin spinosad 640tetramethrin acephate 641 tetramethrin fenamiphos 642 tetramethrindiazinon 643 tetramethrin chlorpyrifos 644 tetramethrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 645 tetramethrin malathion 646 tetramethrin carbaryl647 tetramethrin aldicarb 648 tetramethrin carbofuran 649 tetramethrinthiodicarb 650 tetramethrin oxamyl 651 phenothrin acetamiprid 652phenothrin imidacloprid 653 phenothrin nitenpyram 654 phenothrinnidinotefuran 655 phenothrin chlorfenapyr 656 phenothrin fenpyroximate657 phenothrin tebufenpyrad 658 phenothrin fipronil 659 phenothrintebufenozide 660 phenothrin methoxyfenozide 661 phenothrin halofenozide662 phenothrin triazamate 663 phenothrin avermectin 664 phenothrinspinosad 665 phenothrin acephate 666 phenothrin fenamiphos 667phenothrin diazinon 668 phenothrin chlorpyrifos 669 phenothrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 670 phenothrin malathion 671 phenothrin carbaryl 672phenothrin aldicarb 673 phenothrin carbofuran 674 phenothrin thiodicarb675 phenothrin oxamyl 676 empenthrin acetamiprid 677 empenthrinimidacloprid 678 empenthrin nitenpyram 679 empenthrin nidinotefuran 680empenthrin chlorfenapyr 681 empenthrin fenpyroximate 682 empenthrintebufenpyrad 683 empenthrin fipronil 684 empenthrin tebufenozide 685empenthrin methoxyfenozide 686 empenthrin halofenozide 687 empenthrintriazamate 688 empenthrin avermectin 689 empenthrin spinosad 690empenthrin acephate 691 empenthrin fenamiphos 692 empenthrin diazinon693 empenthrin chlorpyrifos 694 empenthrin chlorpyrifos-methyl 695empenthrin malathion 696 empenthrin carbaryl 697 empenthrin aldicarb 698empenthrin carbofuran 699 empenthrin thiodicarb 700 empenthrin oxamyl701 cyphenothrin acetamiprid 702 cyphenothrin imidacloprid 703cyphenothrin nitenpyram 704 cyphenothrin nidinotefuran 705 cyphenothrinchlorfenapyr 706 cyphenothrin fenpyroximate 707 cyphenothrintebufenpyrad 708 cyphenothrin fipronil 709 cyphenothrin tebufenozide 710cyphenothrin methoxyfenozide 711 cyphenothrin halofenozide 712cyphenothrin triazamate 713 cyphenothrin avermectin 714 cyphenothrinspinosad 715 cyphenothrin acephate 716 cyphenothrin fenamiphos 717cyphenothrin diazinon 718 cyphenothrin chlorpyrifos 719 cyphenothrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 720 cyphenothrin malathion 721 cyphenothrin carbaryl722 cyphenothrin aldicarb 723 cyphenothrin carbofuran 724 cyphenothrinthiodicarb 725 cyphenothrin oxamyl 726 prallethrin acetamiprid 727prallethrin imidacloprid 728 prallethrin nitenpyram 729 prallethrinnidinotefuran 730 prallethrin chlorfenapyr 731 prallethrin fenpyroximate732 prallethrin tebufenpyrad 733 prallethrin fipronil 734 prallethrintebufenozide 735 prallethrin methoxyfenozide 736 prallethrinhalofenozide 737 prallethrin triazamate 738 prallethrin avermectin 739prallethrin spinosad 740 prallethrin acephate 741 prallethrin fenamiphos742 prallethrin diazinon 743 prallethrin chlorpyrifos 744 prallethrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 745 prallethrin malathion 746 prallethrin carbaryl747 prallethrin aldicarb 748 prallethrin carbofuran 749 prallethrinthiodicarb 750 prallethrin oxamyl 751 imiprothrin acetamiprid 752imiprothrin imidacloprid 753 imiprothrin nitenpyram 754 imiprothrinnidinotefuran 755 imiprothrin chlorfenapyr 756 imiprothrin fenpyroximate757 imiprothrin tebufenpyrad 758 imiprothrin fipronil 759 imiprothrintebufenozide 760 imiprothrin methoxyfenozide 761 imiprothrinhalofenozide 762 imiprothrin triazamate 763 imiprothrin avermectin 764imiprothrin spinosad 765 imiprothrin acephate 766 imiprothrin fenamiphos767 imiprothrin diazinon 768 imiprothrin chlorpyrifos 769 imiprothrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 770 imiprothrin malathion 771 imiprothrin carbaryl772 imiprothrin aldicarb 773 imiprothrin carbofuran 774 imiprothrinthiodicarb 775 imiprothrin oxamyl 776 allethrin acetamiprid 777allethrin imidacloprid 778 allethrin nitenpyram 779 allethrinnidinotefuran 780 allethrin chlorfenapyr 781 allethrin fenpyroximate 782allethrin tebufenpyrad 783 allethrin fipronil 784 allethrin tebufenozide785 allethrin methoxyfenozide 786 allethrin halofenozide 787 allethrintriazamate 788 allethrin avermectin 789 allethrin spinosad 790 allethrinacephate 791 allethrin fenamiphos 792 allethrin diazinon 793 allethrinchlorpyrifos 794 allethrin chlorpyrifos-methyl 795 allethrin malathion796 allethrin carbaryl 797 allethrin aldicarb 798 allethrin carbofuran799 allethrin thiodicarb 800 allethrin oxamyl 801 bioallethrinacetamiprid 802 bioallethrin imidacloprid 803 bioallethrin nitenpyram804 bioallethrin nidinotefuran 805 bioallethrin chlorfenapyr 806bioallethrin fenpyroximate 807 bioallethrin tebufenpyrad 808bioallethrin fipronil 809 bioallethrin tebufenozide 810 bloallethrinmethoxyfenozide 811 bioallethrin halofenozide 812 bioallethrintriazamate 813 bioallethrin avermectin 814 bioallethrin spinosad 815bioallethrin acephate 816 bioallethrin fenamiphos 817 bioallethrindiazinon 818 bioallethrin chlorpyrifos 819 bioallethrinchlorpyrifos-methyl 820 bioallethrin malathion 821 bioallethrin carbaryl822 bioallethrin aldicarb 823 bioallethrin carbofuran 824 bioallethrinthiodicarb 825 bioallethrin oxamyl

[0048] When the other insecticide is an oxadiazine derivative, it hasbeen found that it is preferred that the at least one pyrethroid beselected from the group consisting of taufluvalinate, flumethrin,trans-cyfluthrin, kadethrin, bioresmethrin, tetramethrin, phenothrin,empenthrin, cyphenothrin, prallethrin, imiprothrin, allethrin andbioallethrin.

[0049] In another embodiment, the subject method comprises treating aseed prior to sowing with a composition comprising a nitroguanidine andat least one other insecticide selected from the group consisting of achloronicotinyl, a pyrrol, a pyrazone, a diacylhydrazine, a triazole, abiological/fermentation product, a phenyl pyrazole, an organophosphateand a carbamate.

[0050] It has also been found that a transgenic seed can be protectedagainst multiple pests when the seed has at least one heterologous geneencoding for the expression of a protein that is active against a firstpest and, in addition, having adhered thereto a composition comprisingat least one pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroid and at least one otherinsecticide selected from the group consisting of an oxadiazinederivative, a chloronicotinyl, a nitroguanidine, a pyrrol, a pyrazone, adiacylhydrazine, a triazole, a biological/fermentation product, a phenylpyrazole, an organophosphate and a carbamate. It is preferred that thecomposition containing the synergistic combination of insecticides ispresent in an amount effective to provide protection to the shoots andfoliage of the plant against damage by at least one second pest.

[0051] When the transgenic seed has at least one heterologous geneencoding for the expression of a protein that is active against a firstpest, the seed can be treated with a combination of insecticides, whichcombination has activity against at least one second pest. The presentmethod can be used when the first pest and the second pest are the same,for the purpose, for example, to obtain effective control of aparticularly resistant or highly damaging pest. But in a separateembodiment, the transgenic trait protects the seed and/or plant from afirst pest and the composition of the combination of insecticides isselected to control a second pest that is different from the first pest.This method is particularly advantageous when an expressed transgenicgene provides a gene product that can protect a transgenic plant fromone pest, but has no activity against a second, different pest. In thiscase, a combination of insecticides of the present invention can beselected that has activity against the second pest, thus providing theseed and plant with protection from both pests. By way of explanation,when a “first” pest and a “second” pest are referred to herein, itshould be understood that each of the terms can include only one pest,or can include two or more pests.

[0052] It is contemplated that the present method can be used to protectthe seeds, roots and/or the above-ground parts of field, forage,plantation, glasshouse, orchard or vineyard crops, ornamentals,plantation or forest trees. The seeds that are useful in the presentinvention can be the seeds of any species of plant. However, they arepreferably the seeds of plant species that are agronomically important.In particular, the seeds can be of corn, peanut, canola/rapeseed,soybean, curcubits, crucifers, cotton, beets, rice, sorghum, sugar beet,wheat, barley, rye, sunflower, tomato, sugarcane, tobacco, oats, as wellas other vegetable and leaf crops. It is preferred that the seed becorn, soybeans, or cotton seed; and more preferred that the seeds becorn seeds.

[0053] In one embodiment of the invention, as mentioned above, the seedis a transgenic seed from which a transgenic plant can grow. Thetransgenic seed of the present invention is engineered to express adesirable characteristic and, in particular, to have at least oneheterologous gene encoding for the expression of a protein that ispesticidally active and, in particular, has insecticidal activity. Theheterologous gene in the transgenic seeds of the present invention canbe derived from a microorganism such as Bacillus, Rhizobium,Pseudomonas, Serratia, Trichoderma, Clavibacter, Glomus, Gliocladium andmycorrhizal fungi. In particular, it is believed that the present methodwould be especially beneficial when the heterologous gene is one that isderived from a Bacillus sp. microorganism and the protein is activeagainst corn rootworm. It is also believed that the present method wouldbe especially beneficial when the heterologous gene is one that isderived from a Bacillus sp. microorganism and the protein is activeagainst European corn borer. A preferred Bacillus sp. microorganism isBacillus thuringiensis. It is particularly preferred when theheterologous gene encodes a modified Cry3Bb delta-endotoxin derived fromBacillus thuringiensis, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.6,063,597.

[0054] The target pest for the present invention is an adult or larvaeof any insect or other pest that feeds on the seed, roots and/or shootsand foliage of the plant that is to be protected by the subject method.Such pests include but are not limited to:

[0055] from the order Lepidoptera, for example, Acleris spp., Adoxophyesspp., Aegeria spp., Agrotis spp., Alabama argillaceae, Amylois spp.,Anticarsia gemmatalis, Archips spp, Argyrotaenia spp., Autographa spp.,Busseola fusca, Cadra cautella, Carposina nipponensis, Chilo spp.,Choristoneura spp., Clysia ambiguella, Cnaphalocrocis spp., Cnephasiaspp., Cochylis spp., Coleophora spp., Crocidolomia binotalis,Cryptophlebia leucotreta, Cydia spp., Diatraea spp., Diparopsiscastanea, Earias spp., Ephestia spp., Eucosma spp., Eupoeciliaambiguella, Euproctis spp., Euxoa spp., Grapholita spp., Hedyanubiferana, Heliothis spp., Hellula undalis, Hyphantria cunea, Keiferialycopersicella, Leucoptera scitella, Lithocollethis spp., Lobesiabotrana, Lymantria spp., Lyonetia spp., Malacosoma spp., Mamestrabrassicae, Manduca sexta, Operophtera spp., Ostrinia Nubilalis, Pammenespp., Pandemis spp., Panolis flammea, Pectinophora gossypiella,Phthorimaea operculella, Pieris rapae, Pieris spp., Plutella xylostella,Prays spp., Scirpophaga spp., Sesamia spp., Sparganothis spp.,Spodoptera spp., Synanthedon spp., Thaumetopoea spp., Tortrix spp.,Trichoplusia ni and Yponomeuta spp.;

[0056] from the order Coleoptera, for example, Agriotes spp., Anthonomusspp., Atomaria linearis, Chaetocnema tibialis, Cosmopolites spp.,Curculio spp., Dermestes spp., Diabrotica spp., Epilachna spp., Eremnusspp., Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Lissorhoptrus spp., Melolontha spp.,Orycaephilus spp., Otiorhynchus spp., Phlyctinus spp., Popillia spp.,Psylliodes spp., Rhizopertha spp., Scarabeidae, Sitophilus spp.,Sitotroga spp., Tenebrio spp., Tribolium spp. and Trogoderma spp.;

[0057] from the order Orthoptera, for example, Blatta spp., Blattellaspp., Gryllotalpa spp., Leucophaea maderae, Locusta spp., Periplanetassp., and Schistocerca spp.;

[0058] from the order Isoptera, for example, Reticulitemes ssp;

[0059] from the order Psocoptera, for example, Liposcelis spp.;

[0060] from the order Anoplura, for example, Haematopinus spp.,Linognathus spp., Pediculus spp., Pemphigus spp. and Phylloxera spp.;

[0061] from the order Mallophaga, for example, Damalinea spp. andTrichodectes spp.;

[0062] from the order Thysanoptera, for example, Franklinella spp.,Hercinothrips spp., Taeniothrips spp., Thrips palmi, Thrips tabaci andScirtothrips aurantii;

[0063] from the order Heteroptera, for example, Cimex spp., Distantiellatheobroma, Dysdercus spp., Euchistus spp., Eurygaster spp., Leptocorisaspp., Nezara spp., Piesma spp., Rhodnius spp., Sahlbergella singularis,Scotinophara spp. and Triatoma spp.;

[0064] from the order Homoptera, for example, Aleurothrixus floccosus,Aleyrodes brassicae, Aonidiella spp., Aphididae, Aphis spp., Aspidiotusspp., Bemisia tabaci, Ceroplaster spp., Chrysomphalus aonidium,Chrysomphalus dictyospermi, Coccus hesperidum, Empoasca spp., Eriosomalarigerum, Erythroneura spp., Gascardia spp., Laodelphax spp., Lacaniumcorni, Lepidosaphes spp., Macrosiphus spp., Myzus spp., Nehotettix spp.,Nilaparvata spp., Paratoria spp., Pemphigus spp., Planococcus spp.,Pseudaulacaspis spp., Pseudococcus spp., Psylla ssp., Pulvinariaaethiopica, Quadraspidiotus spp., Rhopalosiphum spp., Saissetia spp.,Scaphoideus spp., Schizaphis spp., Sitobion spp., Trialeurodesvaporariorum, Trioza erytreae and Unaspis citri;

[0065] from the order Hymenoptera, for example, Acromyrmex, Atta spp.,Cephus spp., Diprion spp., Diprionidae, Gilpinia polytoma, Hoplocampaspp., Lasius sppp., Monomorium pharaonis, Neodiprion spp, Solenopsisspp. and Vespa ssp.;

[0066] from the order Diptera, for example, Aedes spp., Antherigonasoccata, Bibio hortulanus, Calliphora erythrocephala, Ceratitis spp.,Chrysomyia spp., Culex spp., Cuterebra spp., Dacus spp., Drosophilamelanogaster, Fannia spp., Gastrophilus spp., Glossina spp., Hypodermaspp., Hyppobosca spp., Liriomysa spp., Lucilia spp., Melanagromyza spp.,Musca ssp., Oestrus spp., Orseolia spp., Oscinella frit, Pegomyiahyoscyami, Phorbia spp., Rhagoletis pomonella, Sciara spp., Stomoxysspp., Tabanus spp., Tannia spp. and Tipula spp.,

[0067] from the order Siphonaptera, for example, Ceratophyllus spp. undXenopsylla cheopis and

[0068] from the order Thysanura, for example, Lepisma saccharina.

[0069] In each embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that acombination of two or more insecticides is applied to a seed in aneffective amount; that is, an amount sufficient to provide protection tothe seed and/or shoots and foliage of the plant that grows from theseed. As used herein, “protection” is achieved if the percent of feedingdamage to the seed and/or the shoots and foliage at 10 days afterinfestation (DAI) with the pest is reduced for treated seeds or plantsgrown from treated seeds as compared to untreated seeds or plants grownfrom untreated seeds. In a preferred embodiment, an unexpected advantageof the compositions of the present invention is that the componentinsecticides of the composition operate synergistically. As used here,when it is said that a combination demonstrates “synergy”, what is meantis that the degree of protection that is provided to a seed and/or theshoots and foliage of a plant that grows from a seed, by treatment ofthe seed by the present method (using a combination of insecticides), issuperior to the degree of protection that would be expected on the basisof the protection provided by each of the components of the compositionapplied separately.

[0070] Methods for the calculation of whether a particular insecticidecombination provides synergy are described in detail in the Examples.Briefly stated, however, whether a combination of insecticides providedsynergy in protection against cutworm damage can be calculated asdescribed by Colby, Robert. S., in Weeds, 15(1):20-22 (1967). Thethreshold value (stated as % of control) for synergy of a combinationwas calculated as =(% of control for treatment A)*(% of control fortreatment B)/100(n−1); where n=number of active ingredients in thecombination. A measured % of control value that is less than thecalculated threshold value indicates synergy of the combination.

[0071] When the “degree of protection” is mentioned herein, it is meantto include the amount of damage caused by the target insect to seedsthat have been treated with a given amount of insecticide (and theplants that sprout therefrom) relative to the amount of damage caused tountreated seeds and plants. But “degree of protection” can also refer tothe number of different types of target pests that are affected by thetreatment and the length of the period of protection. In other words, asynergistic degree of protection can include unexpectedly effectiveprotection at reduced levels of active ingredient, as well as protectionagainst an unexpectedly wide variety of pests, or protection for anunexpectedly long (or otherwise particularly effective) period of time.

[0072] The amount of the insecticidal composition of the presentinvention that will provide protection to plant shoots and foliage willvary depending on the particular pesticide combination, theconcentration of active ingredients in the composition, the nature ofthe formulation in which it is applied, the seed type, and the targetpest(s). As used herein, an amount of the composition effective toprovide protection to the seed and/or shoots and foliage of the.plantagainst damage by the pest is the lowest amount of such pesticide thatwill provide such protection. Assuming that the composition is comprisedof 100% active ingredients, then, in general, the amount of the subjectcomposition used will range from about 0.005% to 25% of the weight ofthe seed, and more preferably, from about 0.01% to about 10%. A yet morepreferred range is 0.01% to 1% of the active ingredients relative to theweight of the seed, and an even more preferred range is 0.05% to 0.5%.

[0073] The subject compositions are each composed of at least twoinsecticidal compounds, such as the combinations described in Table 1,and in the surrounding text. When two components are used, the relativeamounts of the two insecticides can range from 1:1000 to 1000:1, byweight. It is preferred, however, that the weight ratio of the twoinsecticides range from 1:100 to 100:1, more preferred is a ratio of1:10 to 10:1, and yet more preferred is a ratio of 1:3 to 3:1.

[0074] In the method of the present invention, the combination ofpesticides is applied to a seed. Although it is believed that thepresent method can be applied to a seed in any physiological state, itis preferred that the seed be in a sufficiently durable state that itincurs no damage during the treatment process. Typically, the seed wouldbe a seed that had been harvested from the field; removed from theplant; and separated from any cob, stalk, outer husk, and surroundingpulp or other non-seed plant material. The seed would preferably also bebiologically stable to the extent that the treatment would cause nobiological damage to the seed. In one embodiment, for example, thetreatment can be applied to seed corn that has been harvested, cleanedand dried to a moisture content below about 15% by weight. In analternative embodiment, the seed can be one that has been dried and thenprimed with water and/or another material and then re-dried before orduring the treatment with the pesticide. Within the limitations justdescribed, it is believed that the treatment can be applied to the seedat any time between harvest of the seed and sowing of the seed. As usedherein, the term “unsown seed” is meant to include seed at any periodbetween the harvest of the seed and the sowing of the seed in the groundfor the purpose of germination and growth of the plant.

[0075] When it is said that unsown seed is “treated” with thecomposition, such treatment is not meant to include those practices inwhich the pesticide is applied to the soil, rather than to the seed. Forexample, such treatments as the application of the pesticide in bands,“T”-bands, or in-furrow, at the same time as the seed is sowed are notconsidered to be included in the present invention.

[0076] The composition comprising a combination of pesticides can beapplied “neat”, that is, without any diluting or additional componentspresent. However, the composition is typically applied to the seeds inthe form of a pesticide formulation. This formulation may contain one ormore other desirable components including but not limited to liquiddiluents, binders to serve as a matrix for the pesticide, fillers forprotecting the seeds during stress conditions, and plasticizers toimprove flexibility, adhesion and/or spreadability of the coating. Inaddition, for oily pesticide formulations containing little or nofiller, it may be desirable to add to the formulation drying agents suchas calcium carbonate, kaolin or bentonite clay, perlite, diatomaceousearth or any other adsorbent material. Use of such components in seedtreatments is known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,739. Theskilled artisan can readily select desirable components to use in thepesticide formulation depending on the seed type to be treated and theparticular pesticide that is selected. In addition, readily availablecommercial formulations of known pesticides may be used, as demonstratedin the examples below.

[0077] The seeds may also be treated with one or more of the followingingredients: other pesticides, including compounds which act only belowthe ground; fungicides, such as captan, thiram, metaixyl, fludioxonil,oxadixyl, and isomers of each of those materials, and the like;herbicides, including compounds selected from carbamates,thiocarbamates, acetamides, triazines, dinitroanilines, glycerol ethers,pyridazinones, uracils, phenoxys, ureas, and benzoic acids; herbicidalsafeners such as benzoxazine, benzhydryl derivatives, N,N-diallyldichloroacetamide, various dihaloacyl, oxazolidinyl and thiazolidinylcompounds, ethanone, naphthalic anhydride compounds, and oximederivatives; fertilizers; and biocontrol agents such asnaturally-occurring or recombinant bacteria and fungi from the generaRhizobium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Trichoderma, Glomus,Gliocladium and mycorrhizal fungi. These ingredients may be added as aseparate layer on the seed or alternatively may be added as part of thepesticide composition.

[0078] Preferably, the amount of the novel composition or otheringredients used in the seed treatment should not inhibit generation ofthe seed, or cause phytotoxic damage to the seed.

[0079] The composition of the present invention can be in the form of asuspension; emulsion; slurry of particles in an aqueous medium (e.g.,water); wettable powder; wettable granules (dry flowable); and drygranules. If formulated as a suspension or slurry, the concentration ofthe active ingredient in the formulation is preferably about 0.5% toabout 99% by weight (w/w), preferably 5-40%. As mentioned above, otherconventional inactive or inert ingredients can be incorporated into theformulation. Such inert ingredients include but are not limited to:conventional sticking agents, dispersing agents such as methylcellulose(Methocel A15LV or Methocel A15C, for example, serve as combineddispersant/sticking agents for use in seed treatments), polyvinylalcohol (e.g., Elvanol 51-05), lecithin (e.g., Yelkinol P), polymericdispersants (e.g., polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate PVPNA S-630),thickeners (e.g., clay thickeners such as Van Gel B to improve viscosityand reduce settling of particle suspensions), emulsion stabilizers,surfactants, antifreeze compounds (e.g., urea), dyes, colorants, and thelike. Further inert ingredients useful in the present invention can befound in McCutcheon's, vol. 1, “Emulsifiers and Detergents,” MCPublishing Company, Glen Rock, N.J., U.S.A., 1996. Additional inertingredients useful in the present invention can be found inMcCutcheon's, vol. 2, “Functional Materials,” MC Publishing Company,Glen Rock, N.J., U.S.A., 1996.

[0080] The pesticides, compositions of pesticide combinations, andformulations of the present invention can be applied to seeds by anystandard seed treatment methodology, including but not limited to mixingin a container (e.g., a bottle or bag), mechanical application,tumbling, spraying, and immersion. Any conventional active or inertmaterial can be used for contacting seeds with pesticides according tothe present invention, such as conventional film-coating materialsincluding but not limited to water-based film coating materials such asSepiret (Seppic, Inc., Fairfield, N.J.) and Opacoat (Berwind Pharm.Services, Westpoint, Pa.).

[0081] The subject combination of pesticides can be applied to a seed asa component of a seed coating. Seed coating methods and compositionsthat are known in the art are useful when they are modified by theaddition of one of the embodiments of the combination of pesticides ofthe present invention. Such coating methods and apparatus for theirapplication are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,918,413,5,891,246, 5,554,445, 5,389,399, 5,107,787, 5,080,925, 4,759,945 and4,465,017. Seed coating compositions are disclosed, for example, in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,939,356, 5,882,713, 5,876,739, 5,849,320, 5,834,447,5,791,084, 5,661,103, 5,622,003, 5,580,544, 5,328,942, 5,300,127,4,735,015, 4,634,587, 4,383,391, 4,372,080, 4,339,456, 4,272,417 and4,245,432, among others.

[0082] Useful seed coatings contain one or more binders and at least oneof the subject combinations of pesticides.

[0083] Binders that are useful in the present invention preferablycomprise an adhesive polymer that may be natural or synthetic and iswithout phytotoxic effect on the seed to be coated. The binder may beselected from polyvinyl acetates; polyvinyl acetate copolymers;polyvinyl alcohols; polyvinyl alcohol copolymers; celluloses, includingethylcellu loses, methylcelluloses, hydroxymethylcellu loses,hydroxypropylcelluloses and carboxymethylcellulose;polyvinylpyrolidones; polysaccharides, including starch, modifiedstarch, dextrins, maltodextrins, alginate and chitosans; fats; oils;proteins, including gelatin and zeins; gum arabics; shellacs; vinylidenechloride and vinylidene chloride copolymers; calcium lignosulfonates;acrylic copolymers; polyvinylacrylates; polyethylene oxide; acrylamidepolymers and copolymers; polyhydroxyethyl acrylate, methylacrylamidemonomers; and polychloroprene.

[0084] It is preferred that the binder be selected so that it can serveas a matrix for the subject combination of pesticides. While the bindersdisclosed above may all be useful as a matrix, the specific binder willdepend upon the properties of the combination of pesticides. The term“matrix”, as used herein, means a continuous solid phase of one or morebinder compounds throughout which is distributed as a discontinuousphase one or more of the subject combinations of pesticides. Optionally,a filler and/or other components can also be present in the matrix. Theterm matrix is to be understood to include what may be viewed as amatrix system, a reservoir system or a microencapsulated system. Ingeneral, a matrix system consists of a combination of pesticides of thepresent invention and filler uniformly dispersed within a polymer, whilea reservoir system consists of a separate phase comprising the subjectcombination of pesticides, that is physically dispersed within asurrounding, rate-limiting, polymeric phase. Microencapsulation includesthe coating of small particles or droplets of liquid, but also todispersions in a solid matrix.

[0085] The amount of binder in the coating can vary, but will be in therange of about 0.01 to about 25% of the weight of the seed, morepreferably from about 0.05 to about 15%, and even more preferably fromabout 0.1% to about 10%.

[0086] As mentioned above, the matrix can optionally include a filler.The filler can be an absorbent or an inert filler, such as are known inthe art, and may include woodflours, clays, activated carbon, sugars,diatomaceous earth, cereal flours, fine-grain inorganic solids, calciumcarbonate, and the like. Clays and inorganic solids which may be usedinclude calcium bentonite, kaolin, china clay, talc, perlite, mica,vermiculite, silicas, quartz powder, montmorillonite and mixturesthereof. Sugars which may be useful include dextrin and maltodextrin.Cereal flours include wheat flour, oat flour and barley flour.

[0087] The filler is selected so that it will provide a propermicroclimate for the seed, for example the filler is used to increasethe loading rate of the active ingredients and to adjust thecontrol-release of the active ingredients. The filler can aid in theproduction or process of coating the seed. The amount of filler canvary, but generally the weight of the filler components will be in therange of about 0.05 to about 75% of the seed weight, more preferablyabout 0.1 to about 50%, and even more preferably about 0.5% to 15%.

[0088] The pesticides that are useful in the coating are thosecombinations of pesticides that are described herein. The amount ofpesticide that is included in the coating will vary depending upon thetype of seed and the type of active ingredients, but the coating willcontain an amount of the combination of pesticides that is pesticidallyeffective. When insects are the target pest, that amount will be anamount of the combination of insecticides that is insecticidallyeffective. As used herein, an insecticidally effective amount means thatamount of insecticide that will kill insect pests in the larvae or pupalstate of growth, or will consistently reduce or retard the amount ofdamage produced by insect pests. In general, the amount of pesticide inthe coating will range from about 0.005 to about 50% of the weight ofthe seed. A more preferred range for the pesticide is from about 0.01 toabout 40%; more preferred is from about 0.05 to about 20%.

[0089] The exact amount of the combination of pesticides that isincluded in the coating is easily determined by one of skill in the artand will vary depending upon the size of the seed to be coated. Thepesticides of the coating must not inhibit germination of the seed andshould be efficacious in protecting the seed and/or the plant duringthat time in the target insect's life cycle in which it causes injury tothe seed or plant. In general, the coating will be efficacious forapproximately 0 to 120 days after sowing.

[0090] The coating is particularly effective in accommodating highpesticidal loads, as can be required to treat typically refractorypests, such as corn root worm, while at the same time preventingunacceptable phytotoxicity due to the increased pesticidal load.

[0091] Optionally, a plasticizer can be used in the coating formulation.Plasticizers are typically used to make the film that is formed by thecoating layer more flexible, to improve adhesion and spreadability, andto improve the speed of processing. Improved film flexibility isimportant to minimize chipping, breakage or flaking during storage,handling or sowing processes. Many plasticizers may be used, however,useful plasticizers include polyethylene glycol, glycerol,butylbenzylphthalate, glycol benzoates and related compounds. The rangeof plasticizer in the coating layer will be in the range of from bout0.1 to about 20% by weight.

[0092] When the combination of pesticides used in the coating is an oilytype formulation and little or no filler is present, it may be useful tohasten the drying process by drying the formulation. This optional stepmay be accomplished by means will known in the art and can include theaddition of calcium carbonate, kaolin or bentonite clay, perlite,diatomaceous earth, or any absorbent material that is added preferablyconcurrently with the pesticidal coating layer to absorb the oil orexcess moisture. The amount of calcium carbonate or related compoundsnecessary to effectively provide a dry coating will be in the range ofabout 0.5 to about 10% of the weight of the seed.

[0093] The coatings formed with the combination of pesticides arecapable of effecting a slow rate of release of the pesticide bydiffusion or movement through the matrix to the surrounding medium.

[0094] The coating can be applied to almost any crop seed that isdescribed herein, including cereals, vegetables, ornamentals and fruits.

[0095] In addition to the coating layer, the seed may be treated withone or more of the following ingredients: other pesticides includingfungicides and herbicides; herbicidal safeners; fertilizers and/orbiocontrol agents. These ingredients may be added as a separate layer oralternatively may be added in the pesticidal coating layer.

[0096] The pesticide formulation may be applied to the seeds usingconventional coating techniques and machines, such as fluidized bedtechniques, the roller mill method, rotostatic seed treaters, and drumcoaters. Other methods, such as spouted beds may also be useful. Theseeds may be presized before coating. After coating, the seeds aretypically dried and then transferred to a sizing machine for sizing.Such procedures are known in the art.

[0097] The pesticide-treated seeds may also be enveloped with a filmovercoating to protect the pesticide coating. Such overcoatings areknown in the art and may be applied using conventional fluidized bed anddrum film coating techniques.

[0098] In another embodiment of the present invention, a pesticide canbe introduced onto or into a seed by use of solid matrix priming. Forexample, a quantity of the pesticide can be mixed with a solid matrixmaterial and then the seed can be placed into contact with the solidmatrix material for a period to allow the pesticide to be introduced tothe seed. The seed can then optionally be separated from the solidmatrix material and stored or used, or the mixture of solid matrixmaterial plus seed can be stored or planted directly. Solid matrixmaterials which are useful in the present invention includepolyacrylamide, starch, clay, silica, alumina, soil, sand, polyurea,polyacrylate, or any other material capable of absorbing or adsorbingthe pesticide for a time and releasing that pesticide into or onto theseed. It is useful to make sure that the pesticide and the solid matrixmaterial are compatible with each other. For example, the solid matrixmaterial should be chosen so that it can release the pesticide at areasonable rate, for example over a period of minutes, hours, or days.

[0099] The present invention further embodies imbibition as anothermethod of treating seed with the pesticide. For example, plant seed canbe combined for a period of time with a solution comprising from about1% by weight to about 75% by weight of the pesticide in a solvent suchas water. Preferably the concentration of the solution is from about 5%by weight to about 50% by weight, more preferably from about 10% byweight to about 25% by weight. During the period that the seed iscombined with the solution, the seed takes up (imbibes) a portion of thepesticide. Optionally, the mixture of plant seed and solution can beagitated, for example by shaking, rolling, tumbling, or other means.After imbibition, the seed can be separated from the solution andoptionally dried, for example by patting or air drying.

[0100] In yet another embodiment, a powdered pesticide can be mixeddirectly with seed. Optionally, a sticking agent can be used to adherethe powder to the seed surface. For example, a quantity of seed can bemixed with a sticking agent and optionally agitated to encourage uniformcoating of the seed with the sticking agent. The seed coated with thesticking agent can then be mixed with the powdered pesticide. Themixture can be agitated, for example by tumbling, to encourage contactof the sticking agent with the powdered pesticide, thereby causing thepowdered pesticide to stick to the seed.

[0101] The present invention also provides a seed that has been treatedby the method described above.

[0102] The treated seeds of the present invention can be used for thepropagation of plants in the same manner as conventional treated seed.The treated seeds can be stored, handled, sowed and tilled in the samemanner as any other pesticide treated seed. Appropriate safety measuresshould be taken to limit contact of the treated seed with humans, foodor feed materials, water and birds and wild or domestic animals.

[0103] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in thefollowing examples. Other embodiments within the scope of the claimsherein will be apparent to one skilled in the art from consideration ofthe specification or practice of the invention as disclosed herein. Itis intended that the specification, together with the examples, beconsidered exemplary only, with the scope and spirit of the inventionbeing indicated by the claims which follow the examples.

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 1

[0104] This example compares the efficacy of seed treatment withlambda-cyhalothrin (CAS# 91465-08-6) to soil granular treatments withtefluthrin (CAS # 79538-32-2) against feeding damage by black cutwormlarvae on shoots and foliage.

[0105] A lambda-cyhalothrin seed treatment formulation was prepared bydiluting the WARRIOR® T insecticide (Zeneca Ag Products, Wilmington,Del.), which contains 11.4% lambda-cyhalothrin as the active ingredient,into water as a carrier. This formulation was applied for one minute atroom temperature to twenty-five grams of Pioneer corn seed (CultivarPN3394) in a rotostatic seed treater at a rate of 125 g, 250 g or 500 gactive ingredient (AI) to 100 kg seed. The treated seeds were allowed tosit uncapped for four to twenty-four hours before planting.

[0106] Treated and untreated seeds (Pioneer hybrid PN3394) were plantedin a soil mix consisting of Dupo silt loam, 30% Perlite, 20% coarse sand(WB-10 grade) in six groups of tubs (20 in. L×15 in. W×8 in. D). Twelveseeds were planted per tub and three tubs were planted for eachtreatment regimen. Soil applications of FORCE® 3GR, which contains 3%tefluthrin granule as the active ingredient, were used for two sets oftubs containing untreated seeds. The FORCE 3GR was applied eitherin-furrow or incorporated into a 5 inch band on the soil surface at thetime of planting. The tubs were overhead irrigated until the plants wereinfested with black cutworm larvae.

[0107] The rate of application for the FORCE 3GR was reported in unitsof grams of the active ingredient per hectare (g/ha), while the rate ofapplication of the WARRIOR T to the seeds was reported in units of gramsof the active ingredient per 100 kilograms of the seeds (g/100 kg).Although the conversion of one of these units to the other will varysomewhat according to the type of seed that is being used, the size andweight of the seed, and the density of planting that is used—among otherthings—an approximate conversion for corn seed can be carried out asfollows. Assuming a seed application rate of lambda cyhalothrin of, forexample, 125 g/100 kg of seed and a planting density of 15 lbs seed/ac,about 14.7 acres can be planted with 100 kg of the seed. This is aneffective application rate of about 8.5 g of lambda cyhalthrin per acre.At 2.47 ac/ha, the seed treatment level of 125 g/100 kg is approximatelyequivalent to a surface banding treatment at about 21 g/ha.

[0108] At twelve days after planting (DAP) but before infestation, theoverall health of each plant was rated by looking at emergence, heightand appearance. This vigor rating gives an indication of anyphytotoxicity from the seed or soil treatment. A rating of 1 indicatesextremely low vigor while 10 is the highest vigor rating.

[0109] The corn plants were infested at 12 DAP, which corresponds tolate growth stage V1 by placing two black cutworm larvae at 3/4 instaron the soil surface near the base of the plant. Plants were rated 3, 7and 10 days after infestation (DAI) for the number of cut plants, aswell as damage from leaf feeding. The percent stand reduction due toplant cutting was calculated by dividing the number of cut plants intothe number of plants present at infestation. The foliar feeding injurywas evaluated using a rating scale of 1=no damage and 10=completedefoliation. The mean results for the three tubs for each treatmentregimen are presented in Table 2 below. TABLE 2 Efficacy oflambda-cyhalothrin seed-treatment against black cutworm feeding damageon corn. Vigor % Stand Plant % Stand Plant % Stand Plant Treatment atReduct'n Defol. Reduct'n Defol. Reduct'n Defol. Regimen 12 DAP 3 DAI 3DAI 7 DAI 7 DAI 10 DAI 10 DAI None 8.0 72.8 9.0 94.4 9.3 100.0 10.0 λ-9.0 13.9 4.3 16.7 5.0 19.4 3.3 cyhalothrin seed 125 g/100 kg λ- 8.3 3.03.7 3.0 2.7 3.0 1.7 cyhalothrin seed 250 g/100 kg λ- 8.3 0.0 2.0 0.0 2.30.0 1.0 cyhalothrin seed 500 g/100 kg Tefluthrin 9.0 33.9 5.0 48.0 6.048.0 5.3 in-furrow 30 g/ha Tefluthrin 8.7 0.0 1.7 0.0 1.7 0.0 0.3 banded30 g/ha

[0110] These results demonstrate that seed treatment withlambda-cyhalothrin prior to planting provides significant protection ofcorn plants against shoot/foliar feeding damage by black cutworm. Forexample, at 7 DAI with the lowest rate tested (125 g/kg seed), asignificant reduction was observed for both plant cutting (16.7% forseed treatment vs. 94% for untreated control) and foliar feeding injury(5.0 for seed treatment vs. 9.3 rating for untreated control) Inaddition, tubs planted with seed treated with lambda-cyhalothrin atrates of 250 and 500 g/100 kg seed, showed essentially no standreduction from plant cutting (3% and 0% for 250 and 500 g, respectively)and only low levels of foliar injury (2.7 and 2.3 rating for 250 and 500g, respectively). This level of protection was equal to the tefluthrinsoil band treatment and superior to tefluthrin in-furrow treatment. Whenthe tubs were evaluated at 10 DAI, no increase in plant cutting and onlyslightly higher ratings for foliar feeding injury were observed withlambda-cyhalothrin seed treatments as compared to evaluations at 7 DAI.In contrast, the untreated control tubs exhibited 100% plant cutting andcomplete defoliation by 10 DAI.

EXAMPLE 2

[0111] This example illustrates the efficacy of corn seed treatment witha combination of tefluthrin and acephate against plant damage by blackcutworm.

[0112] Seed treatment formulations were prepared from tefluthrin(available from Wilbur Ellis Co. under the trade name of RAZE® 2.5 FS)and acephate (N-[methoxy(methylthio)phosphinoyl]acetamide; CAS RegistryNo. 30560-19-1); available from Tomen Agro Inc., San Francisco, Calif.,or Valent USA Corp., Walnut Creek, Calif., under the trade name ofORTHENE®.

[0113] In addition, separate seed treatment formulations were preparedfrom each of the two insecticides alone and a sample of untreated seedwas also prepared. Corn seed was prepared and treated as described inExample 1, except that the treatment levels of the active ingredients onthe seeds was as shown in Table 3. Treated and untreated seeds wereplanted in tubs and cultivated as described in Example 1. The tubs wereoverhead irrigated until the plants were infested with black cutwormlarvae.

[0114] The corn plants were infested as 12 DAP, as described inExample 1. Plants were rated at 10 DAI for the number of cut plants. Thepercent stand reduction due to plant cutting was calculated by dividingthe number of cut plants into the number of plants present atinfestation. The mean results for each of the seed treatment regimens ispresented in Table 3.

[0115] Whether a combination of insecticides provided synergy inprotection against cutworm damage was calculated as described by Colby,Robert. S., in Weeds, 15(1):20-22 (1967). The threshold value (stated as% of control) for synergy of a combination was calculated as =(% ofcontrol for treatment A)*(% of control for treatment B)/100(n−1); wheren=number of active ingredients in combination. A measured % of controlvalue that is less than the threshold value indicates synergy of thecombination. Threshold values for synergy were calculated for each ofthe combinations of Table 3, and the threshold values for synergy ofcombinations of the active ingredients at various levels are shown inTable 4. TABLE 3 Protection of corn plants against black cutworm damageby seed treatments with tefluthrin, acephate and combinations of thetwo. STAND Tefluthrin Acephate REDUCTION Percent of TREATMENT (gm/100 kgseed) (gm/100 kg seed) (% at 10 days) Control Synergy RAZE 100 75 75RAZE 200 100 100 RAZE 300 83 83 ORTHENE 100 6.3 6.3 ORTHENE 200 18.418.4 RAZE/ORTH 100 100 9.4 9.4 NO RAZE/ORTH 100 200 9.4 9.4 YESRAZE/ORTH 200 100 33 33 NO RAZE/ORTH 200 200 9.4 9.4 YES RAZE/ORTH 300100 13.5 13.5 NO RAZE/ORTH 300 200 7.1 7.1 YES UNTREATED 0 0 100 CONTROL

[0116] TABLE 4 Matrix of threshold values for synergy of combination (%of control) RAZE @ 100 RAZE @ 200 RAZE @ 300 ORTHENE @ 4.7 6.3 5.2 100ORTHENE @ 13.8 18.4 15.3 200

[0117] The results of this test showed that thepyrethroid/organophosphorous-insecticide combinations of tefluthrin andacephate were synergistic against damage of the plant by black cutwormfor all levels of tefluthrin when levels of acephate were 200 gm/100 kgof seed (or about 0.3% by weight of the seed).

[0118] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several advantagesof the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

[0119] As various changes could be made in the above methods andcompositions without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

[0120] The discussion of references herein is intended merely tosummarize the assertions made by their authors and no admission is madethat any reference constitutes prior art. Applicants reserve the rightto challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited references.

1-41. (Cancelled).
 42. A method for protecting a seed and/or shoots andfoliage of a plant grown from the seed from damage by a pest, the methodcomprising treating the unsown seed with a composition comprising anitroguanidine and at least one other insecticide selected from thegroup consisting of a chloronicotinyl, a pyrrol, a pyrazole, adiacylhydrazine, a triazole, a biological/fermentation product, a phenylpyrazole, an organophosphate and a carbamate.
 43. A seed that has beentreated by the method as set forth in claim
 42. 44. The seed as setforth in claim 43, wherein the seed is selected from the groupconsisting of corn, soybean, cotton, rice, sorghum, sugar beet, wheat,barley, rye, sunflower, tomato, sugarcane, tobacco, rape and oats. 45.The seed as set forth in claim 44, wherein the seed is corn seed. 46.The seed as set forth in claim 43, wherein the seed is a transgenicseed.
 47. A composition for seed treatment prior to sowing comprising anitroguanidine and at least one other insecticide selected from thegroup consisting of a chloronicotinyl, a pyrrol, a pyrazole, adiacylhydrazine, a triazole, a biological/fermentation product, a phenylpyrazole, an organophosphate and a carbamate. 48-55. (Cancelled). 56.(Previously presented, now cancelled)
 57. The method as set forth inclaim 42, wherein the nitroguanidine is dinotefuran.
 58. The method asset forth in claim 42, wherein the other insecticide is achloronicotinyl.
 59. The method as set forth in claim 58, wherein thechloronicotinyl comprises at least one compound that is selected fromthe group consisting of imidacloprid, acetamiprid, nitenpyram, andmixtures thereof.
 60. The method as set forth in claim 42, wherein theother insecticide is a pyrrol.
 61. The method as set forth in claim 60,wherein the pyrrol comprises chlorfenapyr.
 62. The method as set forthin claim 42, wherein the other insecticide comprises a pyrazole.
 63. Themethod as set forth in claim 62, wherein the pyrazole comprisestebufenpyrad.
 64. The method as set forth in claim 42, wherein the otherinsecticide comprises a diacylhydrazine.
 65. The method as set forth inclaim 64, wherein the diacylhydrazine comprises at least one compoundthat is selected from the group consisting of tebufenozide,methoxyfenozide and halofenozide.
 66. The method as set forth in claim42, wherein the other insecticide comprises a triazole.
 67. The methodas set forth in claim 66, wherein the triazole comprises triazamate. 68.The method as set forth in claim 42, wherein the other insecticidecomprises a biological/fermentation product that comprises avermectin orspinosad.
 69. The method as set forth in claim 42, wherein the otherinsecticide comprises a phenyl pyrazone.
 70. The method as set forth inclaim 69, wherein the phenyl pyrazone comprises fiprinol.
 71. The methodas set forth in claim 42, wherein the other insecticide comprises anorganophosphate.
 72. The method as set forth in claim 71, wherein theorganophosphate is selected from the group consisting of acephate,fenamiphos, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifon-methyl and malathion.73. The method as set forth in claim 42, wherein the other insecticidecomprises a carbamate.
 74. The method as set forth in claim 73, whereinthe carbamate is selected from carbaryl, aldicarb, carbofuran,thiodicarb and oxamyl.
 75. The composition as set forth in claim 47,wherein the nitroguanidine is dinotefuran.
 76. The composition as setforth in claim 47, wherein the other insecticide is a chloronicotinyl.77. The composition as set forth in claim 76, wherein thechloronicotinyl comprises at least one compound that is selected fromthe group consisting of imidacloprid, acetamiprid, nitenpyram, andmixtures thereof.
 78. The composition as set forth in claim 47, whereinthe other insecticide is a pyrrol.
 79. The composition as set forth inclaim 78, wherein the pyrrol comprises chlorfenapyr.
 80. The compositionas set forth in claim 47, wherein the other insecticide comprises apyrazole.
 81. The composition as set forth in claim 80, wherein thepyrazole comprises tebufenpyrad.
 82. The composition as set forth inclaim 47, wherein the other insecticide comprises a diacylhydrazine. 83.The composition as set forth in claim 82, wherein the diacylhydrazinecomprises at least one compound that is selected from the groupconsisting of tebufenozide, methoxyfenozide and halofenozide.
 84. Thecomposition as set forth in claim 47, wherein the other insecticidecomprises a triazole.
 85. The composition as set forth in claim 84,wherein the triazole comprises triazamate.
 86. The composition as setforth in claim 47, wherein the other insecticide comprises abiological/fermentation product that comprises avermectin or spinosad.87. The composition as set forth in claim 47, wherein the otherinsecticide comprises a phenyl pyrazole.
 88. The composition as setforth in claim 87, wherein the phenyl pyrazole comprises fiprinol. 89.The composition as set forth in claim 47, wherein the other insecticidecomprises an organophosphate.
 90. The composition as set forth in claim89, wherein the organophosphate is selected from the group consisting ofacephate, fenamiphos, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifon-methyl andmalathion.
 91. The composition as set forth in claim 47, wherein theother insecticide comprises a carbamate.
 92. The composition as setforth in claim 91, wherein the carbamate is selected from carbaryl,aldicarb, carbofuran, thiodicarb and oxamyl.